Visually Impaired Tennis National Finals sees Britain’s best compete in Sunderland

The National Finals is the culmination of a domestic calendar of LTA regional events for players who have various degrees of sight loss, ranging from B1-5.

The format of visually impaired (VI) tennis varies based on the set sight categories that the players compete within. Depending on a player’s category, they may have up to three bounces of the ball before they return it to their opponent.

In the B1 category, for those having the greatest degree of sight loss or no sight, three bounces of the ball are allowed, and players typically wear eye masks.

The B2, B3, B4 and B5 categories are contested by players with different degrees of partial sight, with B2 players allowed three bounces, B3 players allowed two bounces and B4 and B5 players allowed one bounce of the ball.

VI tennis is open to players of all ages, experience, fitness levels and abilities who have a visual impairment. You can find out how to get involved in VI tennis on the LTA’s website here: Discover Visually Impaired Tennis Opportunities | LTA

It was another week to remember for Lancashire’s Lucas McClay, who won the B3 Singles titles for the second successive year after he lifted the title in 2024 on his debut in the competition.

McClay won his four matches without dropping a set, including a 4-3, 4-1 win against Durham & Cleveland’s Michal Stypa, who finished second in the round robin competition.

In the B2 category, Hertfordshire’s Vincent Keane sealed a win against Yorkshire’s Guy Keating in a competitive final that was decided by a tense championship tie-break.

Meanwhile, the B1 category was won for a fifth consecutive year by Middlesex Naqi Rizvi after a thrilling 4-3(3), 2-4, 10-6 win against Surrey’s Carlos Arbos.

There was more success for the impressive Ivan Rodriguez Deb, who backed up his win at the 2025 IBTA European Championships in October as he won the B4/5 Men’s Singles in the National Finals.

In the B1 women’s event, Warwickshire’s Yvette Priestley defended her title with a 4-2, 4-2 win against Kent’s Bianka Graeming in a competitive final, with the champion revelling in her winning moment.

“The Visually Impaired National Finals in Sunderland was a really well organised and run event this year,” said Priestley, who beat the same opponent in the final of last year’s National Finals.

“The officials, referee and volunteers ensured that everything went smoothly. It was fantastic to win the B1 Singles competition for the second time.

“The conditions in the centre were icy cold, but this didn’t hold us back with the tennis. We were treated to a great tournament dinner as well.”

In the B2 Singles, Katarzyna Pietruszynska emerged victorious, with Durham and Cleveland’s Aleksandra Karakula came out on top in the B3 Women’s Singles and Yorkshire’s Lydia Wrightson emerging victorious in the B4/5 Women’s event.

The LTA supports a Great Britain performance pathway for visually impaired tennis, alongside a calendar of visually impaired tennis competitions around Britain, as part of our Disability Competitions Calendar. 2026 will see an uplift of over 20% in LTA funding for disability tennis competitions creating a bigger and better calendar of events so more people have the opportunity to compete.